Can any arranger modules like the:
Roland RA-800
GEM WK2 oriental arranger
Ketron X4
Yamaha QY-100

or Arranger keyboards like the:
Yamaha PSR-550
Roland G-1000,

have their style patterns accessed via
Midi Prog Change #'s?
If they cannot, is there a model that can
at least have the current Song's BASIC,
VARIATIONS, INTRO, FILLS, and ENDING patterns accessed via MIDI(Prog.Change or Bank Select
messages)?
Thanks.

I believe any General midi module will accept program changes . If it happens to be an arranger module ,the voices assigned to the accompianment are assigned progam changes . If your goal is to customize the voice settings of an arrangement on the module ??/
than most modules will do this as well .
The PSR550 you mentioned is a good value at $499.99 . Arranger modules could easily cost more ! Dan o

Vquestor,

I haven't really tried it. You should be able to do it with the Ketron X1/X4/SD1. The manual lists the MIDI implementation with Ketron system exclusive codes for all the buttons on the arranger. For example, to access the Fill 1, the code is F0H, 26H, 7CH, 38H, F7H. Intro 1 would be F0H, 26H, 7CH, 1DH, F7H.

What are you trying to do?

Henry

[This message has been edited by Henry01 (edited 08-02-2001).]

Thanks for the replies guys.
What I'm trying to do is: change the running
style patterns remotely by using a
programmable MIDI footswitch via a Drumkat
that can send Program Change messages.
For example,Roland used to make a footswitch for the RA-800 which had footswitches for INTRO,Fill 1,Main,Var,etc. Also,some drum
machines will allow you to access the patterns by Program change messages.
The drumkat can even send Bank Select messages (standard 32/00, but unfortunately not MSB,LSB),if any of these
modules would respond to that for changing
styles/patterns.
Henry, the Ketron as you mentioned will
respond the way I want, but unfortunately
I would have to send sysex messages,which
unfortunately my particular drumkat cannot do.
Any suggestion?
Much thanks.

Vquestor,

Prog. Change or Bank select will only do just that - prog. change or bank select. I don't think any manufacturer will overlap these codes with arranger controls.
For Ketron X1/X4/SD1, you can get the programmable 13 or 6 switch controller and use your foot to select the arranger controls.

What are you using to generate chords to feed the arranger? Can it send sysex?

Henry

I guess it looks like the only way to go
is to use a dedicated footswitch like the
Ketron you mentioned, or
the Roland FC-7 (that works with the Roland RA-800/RA-95)
which has a separate switch for:
Start/stop
Intro
Advanced/Standard
Fill 1
Fill 2
Main/Variation
Ending;
because I cannot send sysex from the drumKat
controller. The drumKat can also generate
up to 4 note chords, but I also have a remote
Novation keyboard to input chords.
I was hoping for a module that could do what
I described, just using it and the drumKat;
instead of a manufacturer specific dedicated footswitch.

Just when I thought it was hopeless, I
went looked at the Yamaha QY-100 Data List-
Midi Data Format section(3-3),page 55.
It says under System Common Messages,
Song Select
When received in the PATTERN PLAY mode, the
PATTERN will change.
So Song Number=Pattern Number in the Pattern
Mode.
Can anyone try this to see how it works?
Thanks much.

Hi,

With the KETRON products, if you purchase the optional FS6 or FS13, you can assign parts of the arranger such as Intrs, Endings, Fills, Arrangers A-D, voice change, Start/Stop etc. I believe other manufactures might have equivalent pedals although I have not seen any with 13 or more switches!

AJ

Roland G1000/G800/RA800 (and I believe VA series as well) can indeed perform performance and program changes initiated by MIDI - it is in the manual, though not trivial (each program is uniquely referenced by a combination of several change messages). I was thinking of using some of the programmable MIDI pedals to do that, but it seemed to me that this would require more programming than those MIDI pedals can accomodate in their memory. However, you should be able to do it via MIDI from a computer, or a controller keyboard.

If you are successful, please share with us how you do it.

BTW, There is a dedicated, non-midi foot controller FC7 which lets you select parts of the accompaniment (Basic/Advanced, Orig/Variation, Fill, Intro, Ending), much like Solton's footswitch does.

Regards,